The Shoulder
The Shoulder
68
Car accidentsbold-crane-016

USPS truck ran a red and hit us broadside — first accident ever, totally lost

Still kind of in shock writing this. Yesterday afternoon a postal service truck blew through a red light and slammed into the driver's side of my car while my husband and our two kids were inside. Nobody got taken away in an ambulance so I think we all just kind of… went home and tried to calm down.

Here's the thing — my shoulder has been aching since last night and I woke up this morning barely able to turn my head. My husband says his lower back feels "off" but he keeps brushing it off. The kids seem okay, thankfully, but our four-year-old has been clingy and quiet which isn't like her.

We did not get checked out at the scene. The officers came, made a report, and everyone sort of dispersed. I honestly wasn't even thinking about my own body in the moment — I was just trying to keep it together for the kids.

Now I'm staring at a pile of questions:

  • Do I go to urgent care or the ER today even though it's been almost 24 hours?
  • This involved a government vehicle — does that change anything about how claims work?
  • My car is probably totaled. It's only nine months old. Do I just deal with their insurance or mine?
  • Neither my husband nor I gave recorded statements yet. Should we?

I've never dealt with anything like this. Any advice from people who've been through it would mean a lot right now. I just want to make sure I don't accidentally mess something up by not knowing the process.

13replies

Not sure what your claim is worth?

AskMatlock can connect you with an independent injury lawyer for a free case check — no pressure, no cost to start.

Check my case

0 / 4000 · posted under a randomly assigned handle

13 replies

  • 24
    bright-dove-981

    A few practical things worth knowing: First, get that police report number and request a copy as soon as it's available — sometimes online within a day or two. Second, your four-year-old being checked out by a pediatrician is worth doing even if she seems fine; kids process trauma differently and having a medical record from shortly after the accident matters if anything comes up later. Third, as the other commenter said, government claims often have a formal notice requirement with a tight deadline — worth at least a free consult with a PI attorney soon just to understand your timeline.

    • 2
      weathered-offramp448

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

  • 19
    patient-grouse-300

    I just want to say I'm really glad your kids are okay and that you're asking these questions now rather than later. Please take care of yourself too — it's so easy as a parent to put yourself last but your health matters here. Sending you guys good thoughts 💙

    • 10
      kind-wanderer438

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 18
    gentle-crane-680

    Please go get checked out today — both of you. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries from side-impact crashes often feel like nothing at the scene because adrenaline is doing a lot of heavy lifting. By day two or three the inflammation really sets in and people are shocked by how bad they feel. A 24-hour gap is completely normal and no doctor is going to raise an eyebrow at that. Just go. Document everything.

    • 20
      tidy-swan-238

      Speaking from the other side of that desk — when a government vehicle is involved the claims process runs through a different channel than a private insurer and it can move slower. Keep a paper trail of literally everything: every doctor visit, every pharmacy receipt, every day you couldn't do something you normally would. Adjusters build their offers around documented losses. Undocumented pain is invisible to them.

  • 16
    silent-raven-430

    Three things: doctor today, no recorded statements, talk to a lawyer before you sign or agree to anything. That's it. Everything else can be sorted out but those three things matter right now.

  • 15
    clear-raven-682

    Was the postal driver cited at the scene? And did you get witness information or is it just your word against the driver's about who had the red light? Not doubting you at all — just asking because that stuff can matter a lot and it's easier to gather now than later.

  • 11
    humble-vole-924

    I got hit by a city vehicle a couple years back and the government angle does complicate things a little. There are usually shorter windows to file formal notice of a claim against a government entity compared to a regular accident. I'm not saying panic, but don't sit on this for weeks assuming it works exactly like a normal fender-bender. It doesn't always.

    • 3
      thankful-late-shift566

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

  • 8
    quiet-wolf-565

    Not legal advice, but the government vehicle piece is genuinely the most time-sensitive part of your situation. Many states require written notice of a claim against a government agency within a window that can be as short as 60 days — missing that deadline can seriously hurt your options. A quick free consultation with a personal injury attorney who handles government liability would at least tell you what clock you're working with. Most won't charge for that initial call.

    • 2
      tired-neighbor158

      Really glad you posted an update — gives the rest of us some hope.

  • 7
    clever-badger-601

    DO NOT give a recorded statement yet. I cannot stress this enough. Their adjuster is going to call you soon and sound super friendly and sympathetic — that call is not your friend, it's their evidence-gathering session. You are under no obligation to do that before you've even seen a doctor and know the full picture of your injuries.